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Profitable for the Master’s Use

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Philemon 11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

Onesimus, who was Philemon’s slave, was once unprofitable, but through the ministry of Paul became profitable, both to Philemon and Paul himself. But, most importantly he is profitable “in the Lord.” Like Onesimus, all believers were at one point in their life dead in their sins (Eph. 2:1,5). We too were once unprofitable, but then we became profitable when we believed the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

When we believe that the Lord Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins, was buried, and was raised up for our justification (Rom. 4:25), then at that very moment we receive the gift of eternal life. We have this gift “through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).

In Christ, we are blessed with all spiritual blessings, we were chosen before the foundation of the world, we have been predestined to the adoption as children or sons, and we are accepted (Eph. 1:3-6). “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Eph. 1:7).

God the Father has “made us meet [fit] to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:” (Col. 1:12-13).

God the Holy Spirit has baptized us into Christ’s own Body (1 Cor. 12:12-13). Also, upon believing the gospel of our salvation, we were then sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14).

God has done so much for all of His saints. All that He has done for us has been done to the “praise of His glory,” and “according to the good pleasure of His will.” It says in Ephesians 1:12, “that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.” This is why we give thanks to God!

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

We have been made profitable for the Master’s use in our salvation. For we are complete in Him (Col. 2:10). But, we also should be profitable for the Master’s use in our walk as well. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Rom. 6:6).

Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

God calls us to be good workman “that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). As God’s workman, we should avoid “profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Tim. 2:16). Also, despite what some men have taught or continue to teach, the resurrection (that is, the resurrection of our bodies or the day of redemption when we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air) has not already passed (2 Tim. 2:17-18). It is still in the future. We know that the “foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Tim. 2:19).

As believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to sanctify ourselves by avoiding false teachers and false doctrines. We shouldn’t be “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). Instead, knowing that we have the foundation of God underneath our feet and having the Holy Spirit indwelling inside of us as the seal of our inheritance and as we are careful to maintain good works (Titus 3:8), we can then be the vessels of honor that we’re supposed to be for the Lord. We can be profitable for the Master’s use in a practical sense too.

As you celebrate this day of giving thanks, be sure to give thanks to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for saving you “by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). Make sure you give Him all the praise and glory in all that you say or do every day. Be that “vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master’s use” (2 Tim. 2:21) as you go about sharing the gospel! Thanks be unto God that He has made us all accepted in the Beloved (Jesus Christ), so that we can turn around and serve Him for all eternity. May we all, as one Body, be profitable for the one who is our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, that we may edify one another “till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” (Eph. 4:13).

Thanks be unto God, our Lord and Savior!

Psalm 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

Psalm 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Faith, Hope, and Love

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1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

We learn from 1 Corinthians 13 that most of the spiritual gifts mentioned there and in the previous chapter will cease, and by this day and age that we currently live in they most certainly have stopped. They had their time and purpose in the early days of the church, but are no longer needed. As 1 Corinthians 13:10 says, “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” In this context, that which is perfect would be faith, hope, and charity (love). The greatest of those three is charity. “Charity never faileth (1 Cor. 13:8).”

We then also have faith and hope. All those who have placed their trust or faith in the finished work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, have been declared righteous. Romans 1:12 speaks of the mutual faith that Paul shared in common with those at Rome specifically, but also all believers in general. That faith being, of course, the gospel of Christ. The gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom. 1:16).” Concerning “that which is perfect,” and the faith, we read in Galatians 3:22-24 that “before faith came, we were kept under the law (3:23), shut up (kept for [NKJV]) the faith which should afterwards be revealed,” and “the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ (3:24).” We are no longer under the law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14).

Hope speaks of what we as believers in the Lord Jesus look forward to in the future. Hope is not just wishful thinking on our part. But, it is a sure reality that we can fully expect to happen someday. It is an “earnest expectation” according to Philippians 1:20. It is a guarantee. Ephesians 2:6 says that God has “raised us up together, and made us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:20 says our citizenship is in Heaven. And in Colossians 1:5 it says our hope is laid up for us in Heaven. As believers, we are already made perfect or complete in Christ and have a position in Heaven with Him.

How does faith, hope, and love relate to the Body of Christ?

Ephesians 3:17-20 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Not only do we have the Spirit of God dwelling inside of us, but we have Christ Himself also dwelling inside of us (Romans 8:9,10). He dwells in us by faith. We are grounded and rooted in love, that is, His love towards us. God desires that all His saints would be able to comprehend with each other “what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

What is it that we are to comprehend the width, the length, the depth, and the height of? That would be the love of Christ measured by the mystery. Earlier in chapter 3 we learn that Paul himself was given by revelation the dispensation of the grace of God and the mystery of Christ (Eph. 3:2-5). In verse 8, it was given to him that he should preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. And in verse 9, it is his commission and ours as well to “make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery.” And then it says it verse 19, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” We all are to know about the love of Christ, specifically how it relates to us in the Dispensation of the Grace of God and the mystery. We are to know the width, the length, the depth, and the height of it. We are to know all that Christ has done for us through His finished work on the cross.

the breadth (width) of the love of Christ – Christ loves us all, in that, He died for all. He has offered salvation as a free gift unto all men. Romans 1:16 said that the gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”

Galatians 3:26-28 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  

Before this Dispensation, salvation was only of the Jews (John 4:22). The Lord Jesus had told his disciples not to go to the Gentiles in the earlier part of his earthly ministry (Matt. 10:5-6). And even when the Lord Jesus did tell them later to go to the other nations (Matt. 28:18-20), he still told them to begin in Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, and then the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:44-49). Which they never did, because Israel wasn’t saved first. But now, salvation is offered by God’s grace to everyone whether they be Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male or female. Salvation has come to the Gentiles through Israel’s fall. We are all made one in Him through what He accomplished on our behalf on the cross! His love is offered to all.

the length of the love of Christ – This Dispensation has lasted for some 2000 years now. Both the tribulation and the restoration of the kingdom have not yet come to fulfillment. God has delayed His wrath upon this world, because of His great love, in which He loved us (Eph. 2:4). For Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:9,15:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

And in Romans 9:22, Paul tells us that God endures with much longsuffering. God desires all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). He doesn’t want anyone to perish. This is why He has patiently waited this long. So, while we may wish that we as believers would be taken up to Heaven now, but for the unbeliever’s sake, it is more needful that we stay here on this earth a little longer. Of course, only the Lord knows how much time we have left, before He catches us away.

the depth of the love of Christ – Christ’s love for us goes deep, because we were completely lost or deep in our sins. In Romans 3, we have all been charged “under sin.”

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Christ had to go to deep lengths to rescue us. He had to make himself of no reputation, take the form of a servant, humble himself, and finally be obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

the height of the love of Christ – And the height of the love of Christ, which we have touched on already, is that position that we have in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

We are made alive together with Christ. We are joined to Him. We are made complete in Him (Col. 2:10). We are made one with Christ. We are members of His own Body. We thank God for His love that He has shown towards us, in that, Christ died for our sins while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8) and was raised again from the dead, so that we could be raised up with Him and be with Him in Heaven for all eternity!

To the Body, Paul prays that on a practical level that we may continue to walk by faith allowing Christ to dwell in us by faith; and, “being rooted and grounded in love,” so that we would all come a knowledge of the love of Christ according to the mystery and be filled with “all the fullness of God” (Eph. 4:19). As believers, we all have this “blessed hope (Titus 2:13),” of already being filled with His fullness and seated with Him in Heaven, but we should also all walk in these things as well.

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

God is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Eph. 3:20)” to help us build up the Body of Christ. He is in each and every one of us, and we in Him, to give us the power to help edify or build up each other in love. That way we would be able to come to the “unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” He is working in each one of us by faith through love (Gal. 5:6), so that we each would be able to do our part for the edifying of the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:16).

This is why Paul continues to thank God for the saints’ own faith and love that they have towards the Lord Jesus and toward all saints (Phm 1:4-5).

  • Philemon 1:4-5
  • Ephesians 1:15; 6:23
  • Colossians 1:3-4
  • 1 Thess. 1:2-3

Paul would have us also to continue sharing our faith and love towards the Lord Jesus and toward all saints and never stop doing so. So that the communication of your own faith would become effective by “the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus (Phm 1:6)” and so that other believers would be able to have “great joy and consolation in thy love” and be refreshed by you.

  • Ephesians 1:16-20
  • Philippians 1:9
  • Colossians 1:9-11
  • Philemon 1:6-7

1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Ephesians 4:1-2 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

We are to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Col. 1:28) and are to speak the truth in love to others (Eph. 4:15) to help edify the Body in love (Eph. 4:16). And “above all things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness (Col. 3:14).”

There is a reason why the Holy Scriptures, God’s Word, puts an emphasis on these three things, especially love. It starts and ends with love. That is, Christ’s love toward us! “We love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).” Christ loves us so much that He came to this earth and died for us and our sins, so that we might be justified by faith and have the hope of eternal life with Christ Jesus our Lord forever in Heaven. I love the Lord! We serve an awesome God! Thank you Lord, for dying on the cross for all my sins, and for the sins of the whole world! Share your faith and love with the saints to help edify them! Share it with the world by preaching the gospel to them, so that they may be saved too!

Perfecting the Saints

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Many Members, yet one Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The Body of Christ is made up of all those who have placed their trust in the finished work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To be a member of this church, all that one has to do is believe that Christ died on the cross for their sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:3,4). This body is one and has many members. We have all been baptized by one Spirit into this one Body (cf. Eph. 4:5; Gal. 3:27-28). We are many members, but at the same time we are one together.

1 Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

1 Corinthians 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

Different Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

We all have our own gifts and talents that make us each special within the Body. God has given out different gifts to each member. It says in 1 Corinthians 12:18 that it is God that sets “the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” And in Romans 12:6 it says, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.”

What gifts are we talking about for having today? We aren’t talking about the gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues, the gift of healing or miracles, or even the office of apostle or prophet, etc. These gifts have ceased. According to 1 Cor. 13:8, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” But, instead something better remains.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

So, faith, hope and charity (love) remain. Also the gift of ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling (leadership), and showing mercy (Rom. 12:7-8). Then, you would also have the individual characteristics that we each have. They are to be used for the sake of serving the church, the Body of Christ, which we all are members of. They are to help us build one another up, to help us to grow.

Purpose of Gifts? To minister to the saints

1 Corinthians 12:23-25 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

Every member is important. The parts that we think to be less honourable actually have more abundant honour bestowed upon them. They are more important than we might think. Sometimes it may feel like you’re not as important as somebody else, but that is simply not true. When you think of a sports team, who is the first person to come to mind? Usually a key player or maybe the coach or a former player. For example, I live in Colorado and we have the Denver Broncos. I usually think of either Peyton Manning or John Elway. But, aren’t there more people involved with that organization and not just those two? Yes. The same is true with the local church. We tend to think of only one or two people at any given church. We tend to think of or ask the question, “Whose the pastor at that church?” So, while we only sometimes tend to think of the pastor, there are in fact more people that make that church function on daily or weekly basis. Peyton Manning would not be as great a player as he was, if he had no one to throw the ball to. The team supports Peyton Manning. Likewise, the congregation supports the pastor. Each of us have a special role that we play within the church, the Body of Christ. We are all important. We all have a role in edifying or building up the Body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:12-16 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

It is important that we, as members of the Body of Christ, “grow up into Him in all things, which is the head (Eph. 4:15).” All of our gifts, all of our talents, are not given to “please ourselves (Rom. 15:1).” We are to use what we have to serve others, both to the lost, but especially to the saints. It is for the “perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12).”

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

In Colossians 1:28, we learn that it is God’s will that every man (talking about believers) be presented as “perfect in Christ Jesus.” On one hand, we are already made perfect or complete in Him (Colossians 2:9-10) the moment that we believed the gospel. But, from a practical point of view we are still here on this earth in our old bodies. We have not yet received our new bodies (Phil. 3:21). We have not yet received the prize of the high calling of God that we have in Christ. We are still looking forward to that day when we shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thes. 4:13-18).

Philippians 3:10-14 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus has bought us with a price. We are His purchased possession. He has given us a hope in Heavenly places in Himself. In Eph. 2:6, it is said that God has “raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” It is our goal to “press on.” To forget those things that are behind us, and to look ahead to those things that are ahead of us. We are to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” We are to run the race, fight the good fight of the faith, and to press forward toward the prize.

We are to warn and teach every man in all wisdom, in order to present them as perfect in the Lord. We are to help each and every saint grow in Him, so that we may all attain that prize that we all look forward to on the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). That we all may come to the “unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Eph. 4:13).”

This is what Paul, himself, labored to do. We also are to be laborers together to present every man perfect in Christ.

Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Faith, Hope, and Charity (love) remains. We who have believed the gospel of our salvation (Eph. 1:13), all have one hope. That is, to one day be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in Heaven for all eternity. As members of the Body of Christ, we then are now instructed to “above all things put on love, which is the bond of perfection (Col. 3:14).” We are to love one another by helping each other to come unto a knowledge of the mystery of Christ. To help each other learn of their completeness in Christ. We are to help each other to “put on the new man (Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24).” We have all been joined to Him and are made perfect in Him, because of the love that He first showed us by dying on the cross for our sins and being raised again for our justification (Rom. 4:25).

We all have a role to play in the one Body. We are to “speak the truth in love that we may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head (Eph. 4:15).” We are all complete in Him. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by His mercy He saved us (Titus 3:5).”

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Let us edify the Body of Christ, by making known what is this fellowship of the mystery to all men (Eph. 3:9) that we would all come to the “unity of the faith and a knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man (Eph. 4:13).” Let us all labor together, as members of one Body, to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us all, as one Body, press forward towards the prize of the high calling of God that we all have in Jesus Christ our Lord!

One Foundation

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1 Corinthians 3:10-11 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Paul is the master-builder. He is the one that has laid the foundation. He is the one that planted it (1 Cor. 3:6). The foundation itself is Jesus Christ. Apollos is one that waters the plant and one that builds upon the foundation. We too are also builders.

We are to build off of Jesus Christ as the foundation. We are to build off of the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery (1 Cor. 2:7,8; Rom. 16:25,26). This is the foundation for this Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Grace of God (Eph. 3:2).

Romans 16:25-26 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

No other foundation can be laid. If another foundation is laid, that is not Jesus Christ it is a false doctrine, or at least a different gospel (Gal. 1:6-9), but still the wrong foundation for this Dispensation.

Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

For we are fellow-workers with God, we are His husbandry or field, we are His building. These are all metaphors talking about the Body. We are one Body, one building, one husbandry, etc.

We are also a temple. In verse 16, it says that we are the temple of God, and therefore we have the Spirit of God dwelling inside us. We each individually are the temple of God, but also we are all one temple together in Christ as one Body (1 Cor. 12:12,13).

We need to be careful how we each build upon it. We need to be careful to maintain good works (Titus 3:8). We need to be careful to build upon the foundation of the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery. Or in other words, the gospel of Christ, the gospel of the grace of God.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Today, we are saved by believing that Christ died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:3,4). As believers, we are all then placed into one Body, the Body of Christ. And it is in this Body that we “we may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ (Eph. 4:15).” This growing together into Him is for the purpose that we “all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” This perfect man is the one new man (Eph. 2:15), the Body of Christ. It is God’s plan to present each and every member of Christ’s Body as perfect, complete in Him and without blame.

Those who aren’t faithful stewards, who don’t build off the right foundation, are still saved (as long as they believed), but they will suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ. He will be saved, but his work will be burned up. His work did not help edify, or build up, the Body (Eph. 4:1-32).

1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Being on the right foundation will help us “no longer be children, tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (Eph. 4:14).” Those who do build off the right foundation, who are faithful stewards, will receive a reward (1 Cor. 3:14).

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

In conclusion, it is important that we be good workers for God (Eph. 2:10). We need to be building of the right foundation, which is Jesus Christ. More specifically, it is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. Paul starts with the preaching of the cross in chapter one of First Corinthians and moves on to the hidden wisdom or the mystery in chapter two. The Lord Jesus Christ died for all of our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. If we believe in Him, we are then baptized by one Spirit into one Body. We are baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27). We are made perfect in Him (Col. 1:28; 2:10). This is the message that was revealed unto Paul, which he then revealed to us, and which we should reveal to the world. This is the foundation to be build off of in order to build up, or edify the Body.

Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Things of the Spirit: Growing in the Lord & The Mystery

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Eyeglasses help me and a bunch of other people to see things clearly. When I don’t wear my glasses, everything becomes blurry and out of focus. I may bump into something, if I’m not too careful! But when I have them on, everything is lot easier to see. When it comes to studying the Bible, it is also important for us to see things clearly in order to understand what we’re reading in the Scriptures. And rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15) will help us to do that. While everything in the Bible is for us to learn from (Rom. 15:4), it is not all to us or about us. Most of it was written to the Jewish people, the nation of Israel, and therefore it directly applies to them. When we start to rightly divide and allow the Spirit to work in us to help shed some light on the Scripture, we will know what is the plan for salvation, our commission for today, etc. in the Dispensation of the Grace of God (Eph. 3:2). And in the process, learn also how today’s Dispensation or economy contrasts with other economies in God’s Word.

Today, we will focus our time on specifically the mystery or hidden wisdom which God has revealed unto us through the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 2:7-10). We will look at the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us grow in the Lord (solid food, not just milk (1 Cor. 3:2)), so that we can learn deeper spiritual truths from God’s Word like the mystery.

If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then you do indeed have the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:9-10; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19). 1 Cor. 2:12 says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” The Holy Spirit is here to help us understand God’s Word, which the Spirit is the author, so that we can “know the things that are freely given to us.” Romans 8 tells us to mind “the things of the Spirit.” And the Spirit is the one interceding on our behalf when we pray to God. Spiritual maturity is important in every believer’s life to properly grow in the Lord.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect [mature]: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

1 Corinthians 3:1-2 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

So, what are the things that have been “freely given to us of God” that we should know about? Well, in that same chapter, 1 Corinthians 2, it says in verse seven “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery [secret], even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world [ages] unto our glory.”

Romans 16:25-26 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

God had a certain piece of wisdom that He kept secret since the world began, which He then later revealed it to us, but first to the Apostle Paul. In 1 Tim. 2:4, it tells us that God’s will or desire consists of two things. He desires that all men (mankind) to be saved, and He wants them to come to the knowledge of the truth. So, what is this truth, this hidden wisdom which God wants us to know? It is the truth about the Body of Christ.

The moment we place our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, believe that He died for our sins and rose again, we are then placed by the Holy Spirit into Christ’s own body. Ephesians 4:4-6 tells us that there is “one body, and one Spirit, just as you were called into one hope your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-13).” There is no longer any difference between the saints.

Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Why is this important? Why is this amazing?! Paul tells us the reason in Colossians 1:25-29. There he shares with us why he was made a minister. “To fulfill [complete] the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them (to His saints) God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” And are you ready for the next part?! “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” This is something that we could never do by our own works and still can’t. None of us are perfect. We have all sinned against God (Rom. 3:23). Titus 3:5 says “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by God’s mercy He saved us.” It is according to God’s will, that all His saints are presented as perfect. The only way for that to happen is through Jesus Christ. By being joined to Him, to His Body we are made perfect or complete.

Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship (individually, but also as one Body), created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are not saved by our own works, our own merit, etc. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Our salvation is a free gift offered to us by God’s grace through what Christ did on the cross for our sins. He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4). When we simply believe in Him, the Spirit then baptizes us into one Body where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, bond nor free, male nor female. But, instead we are all one in Christ Jesus! We are made perfect in Him! All believers have a fellowship together with each other and with Christ!

In conclusion, we are all one in Christ! God wants us to “grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ (Christ is the Head of the Body, we are the members).” We are to “mind the things of the Spirit” and learn the “deep things of God” including the mystery. It is our responsibility to make this mystery known to everyone. And finally, stand fast in the liberty that you have in Christ (Gal. 5:1)! Hold onto these precious truths. Stand fast in the fact that you are perfect in Christ!

Stand fast!